NonSub Change Memo - ORR-6 Changes for AHP pop and ASA funding

To: Jordan Cohen

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Carl Rubenstein

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: January 24, 2022

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – ORR-6 Semi-Annual Performance Report (OMB #0970-0036)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved ORR-6 Semi-Annual Performance Report (OMB #0970-0036)

Background

Included in H.R. 5305, the “Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act,” are Afghan Supplemental Assistance (ASA) funds to carry out services in support of Afghan parolees. The continuing resolution (CR) also authorizes the eligibility of Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHP) for ORR services and benefits.

The Refugee Act of 1980 authorizes ORR to require that states, and state Replacement Designees (thereinafter ‘states’) submit performance reports for refugee assistance and services provided to eligible populations. The ORR-6 is designed to capture participation and performance statistics for the following refugee benefits and assistance programs: Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Refugee Support Services (RSS), RSS set-aside programs (including Refugee School Impact [RSI], Services to Older Refugees [SOR], Youth Mentoring [YM], and Refugee Health Promotion [RHP]), Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program, Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) and Medical Screening.

Overview of Requested Changes

ORR is seeking minor updates to the existing ORR-6 Semi-Annual Performance Report to add the newly eligible AHP population and ASA-funded service and programs. ORR also requests to add reporting categories specific to the RHP set-aside program and ASA-funded RHP. The proposed changes under this request include the following:

ORR-6 Schedule A: Program Narrative

• Update the schedule A form to request that states report on the activities, accomplishment, challenges, and performance measures of ASA-funded RSS and each ASA-funded RSS set-aside program under the existing sections A and C.

• Under the “General Overview” section of the Instructions, provide a more specified regulation citation authorizing ORR to require performance reports from the states.

• Add reference to the ASA regulation, provide reference to the ORR Policy Letters on updated population eligibility, and enlist the newly eligible Afghan nationals receiving ORR services and assistance.

• In the Schedule A Instructions, add ASA reference and add RHP and each ASA funded RSS set-aside program (including ASA-funded RHP) to provide clear reporting guidance. “Housing” service funded under ASA was specified as an example for reporting.

ORR-6 Schedule B: Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Performance Report

• Correct a regulation citation for RCA in the Schedule B Instructions.

• There is no revision requested to the Schedule B form.

ORR-6 Schedule C: Employability Services Performance Report

• Add languages to the Schedule C Instructions to clarify that outcomes from ASA funded RSS employment services shall be reported under Schedule C and correct a citation error under Section B.1.

• There is no revision requested to the Schedule C form.

ORR-6 Schedule D: Refugee Support Services (RSS) Set-Asides

• Under existing Section A of the Schedule D form: Under “Type of the Participants,” revise the “Youth Mentoring” to “Eligible Youth Mentee” to be more precise, and add the RSS set-aside RHP program that AHP is eligible for participation.

• Add “including trends based on new program components and/or initiatives” under the existing section D of the Schedule D form: “Trends” to provide clearer guidance on data trends reporting.

• In the Schedule D Instructions, add languages to clarify that all ASA funded RSS set-aside programs are required to be reported under Schedule D.

ORR-6 Schedule E: Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program Performance Report

• Add “Afghan Humanitarian Parolee” and “Other” categories under the existing section B of the Schedule E form: “New Enrollments by Eligibility”.

• Update the Schedule E Instructions to provide clear instructions and definitions for “AHP” and “Other” population.

• Add the two new options under existing section C.1 of the Schedule E form: “Eligibility Type” and reference to Policy Letters on eligibility.

ORR-6 Schedule F: Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) and Medical Screening Performance Report

• Within the existing section D of the Schedule F form: Add “Afghan Humanitarian Parolee” under “Screening recipient completions by eligibility status” and update “SIV” to include newly eligible SI/SQ Parolees and Conditional Permanent Residents populations.

• Revise the guidance under the existing Section D.3 of the Schedule F form for clarity and to make it up-to-date.

• Update the Schedule F Instructions to provide clearer and updated definitions of “days from arrival’ for all eligible populations including Afghans under existing Section A.

• Add definitions for AHP and newly eligible SIV populations and correct a misspelling of “Amerasians” under existing Section D of the Schedule F form.

Annual Service Plan:

• Add the option to report “ASA Housing” and “ASA immigration-related legal assistance” participants and services under the existing Section 4: “Previous FFY Report (Program Participants)” and section 8: “Description of state-provided or contracted services”, ORR requests.

• Update to specify reporting of YM and RHP under the existing sections 7 and 9. These two RSS Set-Aside programs have been reported under “Other” and “Miscellaneous” categories.

• Replace the title of “Miscellaneous” category with “Other” under Section 9 to be consistent.

• In the Annual Service Plan Instructions, add reference to ASA and definitions and guidance of “ASA Housing” and “ASA immigration-related legal assistance”.

• Clarify in the Annual Service Plan Instructions that the RSS and RSS Set-Aside reporting should include all data related to the provision of services through the ASA funds.

• Update the example of contracted funding source reporting with an ASA-funded contract.

Time Sensitivities

Afghan humanitarian parolees became newly eligible for the applicable ORR benefits and services starting October 1, 2021, following the passage of the CR. Without a timely approval on adding this newly authorized eligible population and the services funded by ASA for the hereinbefore forms, ORR is unable to ensure accurate data collection and reporting on services provided to the Afghan humanitarian parolees and other newly eligible Afghan nationals. Schedule F is due at the end of January 2022.